30/08/2026
The Nepal flood disaster is so heartbreaking. So many lives were lost, and so many homes were destroyed.
But this one particular house survived the disaster
While the flood destroyed so much around it, this house remained standing. The family went upstairs, and they had the confidence to stay inside their own home, believing that the house would protect them.
And at the end of the day, it did.
You don't know what tomorrow will bring.
You don't know what kind of situation the house you are building today may have to face in the future. You don't know what your children may experience years from now. That is why when you are building, don't just build for today. Build with the future in mind.
When I say give your house your best, this is what I mean.
Start with the right foundation. Don't just copy the foundation used on another site. Carry out a proper soil test and understand the type of soil you are building on. Your foundation should be designed according to the soil condition, the building and the loads it will carry.
Get the right professionals. Your architect, structural engineer and other professionals involved in the project must know what they are doing. Don't choose professionals simply because they are cheap. You are building a house, not buying a shirt.
Use the right materials. The quality of the cement, reinforcement, blocks, sand, granite and other materials matters. Don't reduce the quality of materials just because you want to save money.
Follow the right construction process. The right materials can still fail if they are poorly used. Reinforcement must be properly placed. Concrete must be properly mixed and compacted. The foundation, columns, beams, slabs and other structural elements must be executed according to the design and specifications.
And don't compromise.
If the professional tells you something needs to be done properly, don't remove it simply because you want to reduce the cost.
If your budget cannot carry the house you designed, reduce the size or build in stages. Don't reduce the standard of the construction just to force the house into a budget it cannot fit.
Because you may be building this house today for yourself, but tomorrow, it may be the house protecting your children and your entire family.
Nobody builds a house expecting a disaster to happen.
But that is exactly why you must prepare for what you cannot predict.
God rest the souls of those who lost their lives in this disaster. May their families find strength and comfort.
